Help me decide if my boat restore is worth it.

[NEStriper]

Hi guys.

I picked up this boat: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=525134&page=4 over the winter and began work on it two weeks ago. The soft spot I found turned into completely shot stringers and transom. The stringers and deck are out, which took about a day, but I'm not sure if continuing is worth it. I'm looking for alternative opinions here.

The outboard is good as is the trailer, both easily worth the $500 I paid. I'm estimating this repair at ~$1,000-$1500. I can only work some weekends (off at college, although only an hour away) and getting this in the water by June 1st is the #1 priority. I do not have any idea how long this project will take, although I am willing to put in the effort. Anyone with experience in time estimates, feel free to jump in.

I really like the design of the boat. A V hull is a must, as this is an ocean/bay boat for fishing the salt in RI. Can one find a decent hull for $2000 or less? I just don't know if it's worth the effort.

Any thoughts?

Thanks guys.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Help me decide if my boat restore is worth it.

It would be tough to get it all back together by June with that schedule. I don't think I could do it. Can you find a decent hull for 2000.00. My experience and I bet others will agree, the answer is no. You can find one that needs work like you've done but a good one isn't going to show up for 2000.00 unless the person just has no idea of what a boat is worth. Blame it on the economy. Nobody is just dumping a boat to get it out of the driveway. They're all looking at them with $$$$ in their eyes and asking way more than they should. Prices barely waivered this winter when they should have been way down.

If it was me, I'd start working on it and set my launch expectations a little further out. If you make it for a June launch great but if not then so be it.

 

[oops!]

Re: Help me decide if my boat restore is worth it.

can you do an hour a day plus weekends?

 

[NEStriper]

Re: Help me decide if my boat restore is worth it.

If I was at home, yes. Commuting from college is just not economically feasible ($30 trips in gas alone).

Are there nice hulls for $4k? (transom/stringers/deck).

 

[jpormen]

Re: Help me decide if my boat restore is worth it.

Look for an aluminum boat, can do it much faster, no never for fiberglass, the only wood is transom and floor everything else is metal

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Help me decide if my boat restore is worth it.

Howdy NES...

I think if you go back and read through your original thread again I believe the answer is right in there. Alum vs. Glass, rotted stringers/transom, money stuff, time to rebuild stuff...

I think it's all been kinda hashed out actually.

I do think you got a pretty good deal on that OB and trailer, the boat itself not so much. If I were in your shoes I'd find an aluminum boat to rebuild so you can get on the water this summer. But that's just me.

 

[oops!]

Re: Help me decide if my boat restore is worth it.

If I was at home, yes. Commuting from college is just not economically feasible ($30 trips in gas alone).

Are there nice hulls for $4k? (transom/stringers/deck).

there are nice boats for 4k.

you have to excuse my alum boat friends....they are biased......but what ever you do.....dont look at the ease to restore and look of the painted beer cans.....lol

at 4k,,,,,you can get almost anything you want....

a cuddie cabin to a flat bottom racer to a family fish and ski...one thing i would suggest....is to look and read here.....then you will know how to trouble shoot the boat you look at!

if you go tin.....you will know what to look for, and know how to fix it, and how much it will cost.

generally speaking, alum boats are GENERALLY much faster to fix and cheaper, (motor not withstanding) than a fiberglass boat.....

just DO NOT tell any body i said that !

but the one you have can be fixed if you wish.......chances are that you have a bit of rot in it due to its age, a few core samples of the stringer and the transom will tell !

BTW......just a friendly warning.....
if a bunch of guys here try and get you to join the STARMADA, by offering you a flower and some purple koolaid....

just run !

 

[oops!]

Re: Help me decide if my boat restore is worth it.

If I was at home, yes. Commuting from college is just not economically feasible ($30 trips in gas alone).

Are there nice hulls for $4k? (transom/stringers/deck).

there are nice boats for 4k.

you have to excuse my alum boat friends....they are biased......but what ever you do.....dont look at the ease to restore and look of the painted beer cans.....lol

at 4k,,,,,you can get almost anything you want....

a cuddie cabin to a flat bottom racer to a family fish and ski...one thing i would suggest....is to look and read here.....then you will know how to trouble shoot the boat you look at!

if you go tin.....you will know what to look for, and know how to fix it, and how much it will cost.

generally speaking, alum boats are GENERALLY much faster to fix and cheaper, (motor not withstanding) than a fiberglass boat.....

just DO NOT tell any body i said that !

but the one you have can be fixed if you wish.......chances are that you have a bit of rot in it due to its age, a few core samples of the stringer and the transom will tell !

BTW......just a friendly warning.....
if a bunch of guys here try and get you to join the STARMADA, by offering you a flower and some purple koolaid....

just run !

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Help me decide if my boat restore is worth it.

just run !

Or...

You could just hang out for a while

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Re: Help me decide if my boat restore is worth it.

This thread has me confused what did I miss?

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Help me decide if my boat restore is worth it.

This thread has me confused what did I miss?

Here is the original thread...

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=525134&page=4

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Re: Help me decide if my boat restore is worth it.

The triple post is what has me confused.